Publications

Our latest annual Results Report presents a review of the Office of Research - Innocenti’s top-line results delivered in 2017. It contains an excellent summary of how our research contributes to impact for children. Selected key results are highlighted for all research and capacity-building areas, while ‘deeper dive’ case studies provide in-depth narratives. The report also highlights capacity building, promotion of ethical research, and communications and operations milestones in 2017. Importantly, the report describes the Office of Research’s expanding role as a physical and virtual convening space for dialogue and critical thinking on issues concerning children and adolescents, in support of UNICEF’s new global Strategic Plan.

The 2016 UNICEF Innocenti Results Report presents the activities and key results of the Office of Research achieved in 2016. Research continues to influence policy and practice by addressing inequalities in child well-being and expanding the international evidence base in social protection, child poverty, child protection and education. New and emerging areas of research are beginning to address critical gaps for children, including migration and displacement, children in care work and gender inequality. Enhanced reach, improved dissemination platforms and growing influence are creating positive impacts on social policy for children in various countries. Over 140 research products were published in a range of print and electronic media, including peer-reviewed journal articles, contributions to edited volumes, working papers, research reports and resources, digests, briefs, blogs, podcasts and videos.

This Annual Review provides a brief outline of the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre's ongoing workin the areas of promoting advocacy and policy dialogue to support the implementation of international standards and the development of child friendly policies and in monitoring the impact of economic and social policies on children's rights. Efforts were focused on analyzing, documenting and disseminating information related to the implementation of international standards for all children, monitoring the impact of economic and social policies on children's rights, advocating the development of child-friendly policies and practices, and enhancing partnerships both within and outside the organization.

Since its creation in 1988, the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre (IRC) has made major contributions to socio-economic research highlighting the impact of economic policy on children and to improved understanding of children's rights. IRC contributes cutting-edge research to influence policy-making in favour of the world's poorest and most marginalized children and their famililes; informs policy formulation within UNICEF, strengthens the role of UNICEF as an advocate for children's rights; and supports programme development and capacity-building.

The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child guides every aspect of the work of the Centre and of UNICEF (the United Nations Children’s Fund) as a whole. The Centre has been the research engine for UNICEF’s shift to a rights-based approach over the last decade, measuring the reality for children against the standards required by the Convention. In 2000, as in previous years, the Centre worked in partnership with UNICEF offices and National Committees, with Governments, non-governmental organizations, universities, researchers and others to share expertise, ideas and experience. And, as always, it maintained its intellectual independence to focus on cutting-edge, action-oriented research.

Since its establishment in 1988, the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre has been a catalyst for the development of UNICEF’s leadership role for children in many key areas. Work carried out at the Centre in Florence, drawing on the resources and experience of a large network of experts and UNICEF field offices, has helped to shape the human rights agenda for children. It has also contributed to the intellectual foundation of UNICEF’s advocacy for shifts in economic and social policies in favour of the poorest children and families worldwide.